title: Identification of the proteins required for fatty acid desaturation in zebrafish (Danio rerio).
abstract: Zebrafish Δ-5/Δ-6 fatty acid desaturase (Z-FADS) catalyzes the cascade synthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), thereby playing a pivotal role in several biological processes. In the current study, we report that the Z-FADS protein exists in close proximity to certain cytochrome b5 reductases (CYB5R2 and 3) and elongases (ELOVL2, 4, 5 and 7) on the endoplasmic reticulum, as determined using fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence resonance energy transfer. HeLa cells co-transfected with zebrafish fads and elovl2, 4, and 5 produced docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), as detected by gas chromatography. In addition, immunofluorescence cytochemistry and Western blot data revealed that Z-FADS is present in the mitochondria of HeLa cells. Collectively, our results implicate that Z-FADS, the sole fatty acid desaturase ever been identified in zebrafish, can serve as a universal fatty acid desaturase during lipogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Fisheries Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yao-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen-I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Tsu-Lin
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Steve S-F
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chi-Yao
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000378:metabolism*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D005227:Fatty Acids; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase
keywords: Cytochrome b5 reductase; Elongase; Fatty acid desaturase; Fluorescence resonance energy transfer; Zebrafish